Battle Creek Couple Sentenced On Fraud Charges

Couple charged with COVID-19, SSI, and Food Assistance Fraud; Combined Fraud $216,000

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Antonio and Keturah Mixon, of Battle Creek, Michigan were sentenced after pleading guilty to COVID-19 Relief, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Food Assistance Program fraud charges before U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering. The combined alleged fraud totals approximately $216,000, with Antonio defrauding $36,000 and Keturah defrauding $180,000. The prosecution noted that the guilty pleas represented only a portion of the fraudulent conduct the Mixons committed. Antonio was sentenced to four months in prison and Keturah was sentenced to 18 months and ordered to pay $180,000 in restitution.

           “These programs were meant to protect people who had fallen on hard times,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office will continue to aggressively hold accountable scam artists and cheats who steal hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”   

          Antonio Mixon committed wire fraud by falsely claiming he was entitled to financial assistance under the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.  This program was used to provide loans and grants to small businesses hurt by the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. Antonio Mixon claimed that he ran Kingdom Warriors Ministry, allegedly a nonprofit organization to help children in Battle Creek.  He received $36,000 in grants and loans based upon the number of his purported employees. This claim was false because Kingdom Warriors Ministry never operated, never assisted children, and had no employees. After the money arrived in the Mixons’ bank account, Keturah Mixon immediately withdrew it.

          Keturah Mixon falsely obtained subsistence benefits from two federal programs:  SSI and the Food Assistance Program.  Both programs are meant for people experiencing economic hardships, so anyone applying for assistance must demonstrate that they financially qualify. Keturah Mixon did not qualify because she owned several parcels of real estate, ran a business, and had access to Antonio Mixon’s income, all of which disqualified her.  However, she unlawfully concealed this information and received approximately $180,000 in funds.

          “Ms. Mixon knowingly concealed from and failed to disclose information to the Social Security Administration (SSA) which would have made her ineligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). By doing so she abused the SSI program, a needs-based safety net for the most vulnerable among us,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for SSA. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who defraud SSA. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support of our investigation and holding Ms. Mixon accountable for her actions.”

          The couple was charged with federal fraud offenses in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in January 2023.

          This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Social Security Office of Inspector General, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy VerHey.

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